City clash hold no fears for United star Rooney

05 April 2012 12:46

Wayne Rooney insists Manchester United are capable of clinching the Premier League title with a victory at Manchester City later this month.

United are five points clear at the top of table and could win their 20th English league title at the Eastlands home of bitter rivals City on April 30.

That is a mouth-watering prospect for everyone associated with United, especially with the painful memories of City's 6-1 win at Old Trafford earlier this season still fresh in their minds.

After that superb City display, Roberto Mancini's men were widely expected to end United's hold on the title, but the momentum has since shifted back to Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

United striker Rooney knows City have a formidable home record -- they recently set a Premier League record for 20 successive victories -- but his side's FA Cup third round win at Eastlands in January guarantees they will have no fear about playing a potential title decider on enemy soil.

"We're certainly good enough to beat them there," Rooney said. "We showed that when we beat them 3-2 in the FA Cup in January.

"They have a great home record in the league but we managed to get the result there in the Cup.

"That shows we can go there and win. We just have to be ourselves and play our normal football. We'll take full confidence into that game and hopefully we can get the three points.

"We'll approach it as we do any normal game. There are three points up for grabs and we'll be trying to get them. We won't be doing anything different."

Meanwhile, Rooney has praised the impact of Danny Welbeck and believes his fellow striker is a leading candidate to be United's player of the season.

He told Inside United: "There are a few candidates but I'd have to say Welbeck.

"To play so many games for United in his first full season has been brilliant. There has been a lot of pressure on him but he's done really well and scored some important goals for us.

"He got an opportunity from the start of the season and he came in and played very well and scored a few goals. He's an exciting player and credit to him for the way he's performed - he's played in a lot of matches this season."